Ziegelmann v. National Farmers Union Property & Casualty Companies

**Ziegelmann v. National Farmers Union: Insurance Coverage Dispute** This case involved a dispute between an employee and National Farmers Union Property & Casualty Companies over underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance benefits. The employee, Ziegelmann, was trying to collect insurance benefits after being injured by a driver who didn't have enough insurance to cover the damages. Ziegelmann attempted to use a legal procedure called the "Schmidt procedure" to force the insurance company to pay benefits without first exhausting coverage from the other driver's insurance policy. The court ruled in favor of National Farmers Union. The judges decided that the Schmidt procedure - which allows certain shortcuts in insurance claims - does not apply to nonresident underinsured motorist coverage situations. The court affirmed that National Farmers had the right to require Ziegelmann to exhaust the other driver's insurance coverage first before paying UIM benefits, as stated in their policy. **What this means for workers:** If you're injured by an underinsured driver, you may need to collect the maximum amount possible from that driver's insurance before your own UIM coverage kicks in. Always carefully review your insurance policy's requirements and consider consulting with an insurance professional to understand your coverage options.